Tigercat creates new swing carrier mulching head for fire mitigation

A tigercat muchling head at work

Tigercat has developed a mulching head for swing carriers in response to fire mitigation equipment requirements in western North America.

Wildfires are proving to be one of the greatest challenges facing foresters, landowners, governments and environmental organizations in the 21st century.

The summer fire season over the last several years in North America has devastated millions of hectares of forest land, destroying wildlife habitat and carbon sinks, while releasing massive amounts of carbon and particulate matter into the atmosphere. Excessive fuel build-up on the ground is having a devastating effect.

Tigercat recently released the mulching head designed to mount on a Tigercat LX830E carrier. This machine can tackle steep slopes and operate within dense stands to reduce build-up of woody debris as a mitigation measure to guard against future wildfires.

The new 4161-15 head has a 1.5 metre mulching swath, 130-degree wrist pivot and a pin-on rake for added utility. Like all Tigercat mulching heads, it is strength-to-weight optimized and fitted with large bearings.

Many of the components, including the bearings, sprockets, seals and timing belt, are common to the Tigercat 4061 series mulching heads and thus field proven. 

Hydraulic hoses are routed through the open tip boom into the top of the wrist, providing excellent protection. The replaceable wear liner is field serviceable. Removable covers allow easy access to all service points.

The LX830E carrier is powerful, compact and extremely capable on steep terrain. The machine features a 330 hp Tigercat engine, 8.43-metre cut radius and a 2.1 metre tailswing radius.